2 October 2006 - The United Nations has designated the first Monday in October every year as World Habitat Day to reflect on the state of human settlements and the basic right to adequate shelter for all. It is also intended to remind the world of its collective responsibility for the future of the human habitat.

The theme of this year’s World Habitat Day on Monday 2 October 2006 is Cities, magnets of hope. This theme, chosen by the United Nations, is to remind all of us that the world is witnessing the greatest migration in its history of people into towns and cities.

UN-HABITAT has announced that the Italian city of Naples has been designated to spearhead the 2006 global celebration of the World Habitat Day, which will further cement the growing relationship the agency has enjoyed with Italy over the years.
The latest contribution of the Italian Government as UN-HABITAT’s donor is an 8.5 million USD allocation for the Settlement and Integration of Refugees Programme in Serbia SIRP. The funds are the second allocation of a total 15 million euros Italy is disbursing for the programme.

This year, UN-HABITAT Serbia calls on all partners in central government, local governments, and civil society to take part in organizing activities to raise awareness and stimulate debate on the important theme of Cities, magnets of hope.

Raise awareness in your city – organize a World Habitat Day 2006 event

The World Habitat Day provides an excellent opportunity to highlight key human settlements issues, raising awareness and stimulating debate on the theme of Cities, magnets of hope.

Here are some of the activities that YOU can help organize in partnership and/or with the support of UN-HABITAT Serbia:

• panel programmes and conferences
• essay and drawing competitions
• introduction in school programmes
• press conferences
• workshops and seminars
• city walks
• exhibitions
• other public events

UN-HABITAT calls all its partners to take part in organizing activities to raise awareness and stimulate debate on the following themes relevant to the current process of formulation of national housing policies and the development of Cities and Municipalities in Serbia:

• social housing
• housing for refugees
• urban environment
• healthy urban housing
• child-friendly cities
• socio-economic integration of vulnerable groups
• community participation
• cities marketing and branding
• slum upgrading and prevention
• access to water and sanitation